Pipe cleaner clamp



Apri114,1942,. i E. VON BON HORST Em 2,279,169

PIPE CLEANER CLAMP Filed Sept. 27, 1940 Patented Apr. 14, 1942 UNITED TES ATENT f FFICE PIPE CLEANER CLAMP Earl Von Bon Horst and Le Roy M. Strang, San Clemente, Calif.

Z Claims.

This invention relates to a sanitary drain pipe cleaner.

An object of the invention is the provision of' simple and efficient means for cleaning a drain pipe.

Another object of the invention is the construction of novel means for feeding a flexible element through the apparatus, either when the operator is starting to remove the obstruction in the drain pipe, or when he wishes to remove the flexible element from the drain pipe and store it in the container of the apparatus.

A still further object of the invention is `the construction of a novel gripping device for operating upon the ilexible element, in an apparatus as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view taken on line 2-2 Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a View partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section of the apparatus, showing the primary and auxiliary tubes in an extended position.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the apparatus, showing particularly the flexible-element gripping-device.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55, Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 5 6, Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

-Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of the gripping device and the exible element, showing particularly the head of the bolt of the gripping device.

Referring to the drawing, in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, I designates a container on which a cap 2 is secured by crimping said cap at 3 upon the container; this produces an inexpensive manner of securing, as well as a very secure fastening. A socket plate 4 is suitably secured to cap 2 and a handle 5 is secured at one end in said socket plate 4 by means of a set screw 6, Fig. 1.

Secured to the inner end of container I is a sleeve 1. A primary tube 8 is preferably threaded into sleeve l, and is secured -against accidental displacement by means of set screw 9. This set screw S extends at its inner end into the primary tube 8, whereby the inner end of set screw 9 can clamp upon the flexible element IB. This iiexible element I0 is commonly called by the trade, a snake. It is to be understood that we use the term tube in this specification and the following claims, in a broad sense, meaning any kind of a suitable pipe or hollow unit. The flexible element ID is usualy coiled within the container I.

An auxiliary tube or pipe l l is slidably mounted upon the primary tube 8. The tube II is provided with an elongated slot I2, and a pin or screw I3 travels in slot I2 and is secured to the primary tube 8; this pin I3 limits the sliding movement of the auxiliary tube I I Vupon the primary tube 8.

On the auxiliary tube H isla flexible-element gripping device I4. This gripping device I4 comprises an integral outstanding casing I5 which is partly closed at its outer end, and on this end are two notches I 6. On the auxiliary tube II, and extending from the opposite side to the casing I5, is an outwardly-extending sleeve I'I; this sleeve II registers transversely with the casing I5. A sliding bolt I8 is mounted in casing I5, and on its outerv end is threaded a grip I9; the

bolt I3 is also provided on its inner end with a I cylindrical-like head 26. Head 20 is provided on its outer end With an integral socket element ZI which element 2| is provided in its outer face with a socket 22 that is adapted to receive the flexible element I0; socket 22 constitutes straddling means (Figs. 4, 5 and 7). 'Ifo enable the iiexible element Il) to t the socket element 2I, cut-away portions 23 and 24 are 'provided on the head, at opposite side of the socket element. A coil spring 25 is in casing I5, around the bolt I8. One end of coil spring 25 bears against the partly closed outer end of casing I5 and its other end bears against the head 20, Figs. 4 and 5. This spring 25 normally holds the bolt I8 and its head 20 in an extended position. A pin 2B extends through bolt I8 and it normally is seated in the notches I 6. When the `operator pulls outwardly upon the grip I9, the spring 25 will be compressed and the pin 26 will be permitted to move out of the notches IB and rest upon the extreme outer end of the casing I5 as clearly shown in Figure3. The sleeve I1 permits the bolt I8 and its head 20 tov be removed from the apparatus, or placed therein, as the operator desires. To remove the bolt from the apparatus all that is necessary is to rst remove grip I9 and pin 26, whereupon the bolt is free to slide out of the casing and the registering sleeve.

The peculiar construction of the head and the socket element 2l enables the apparatus to eiciently grip the flexible element I0. When gripping the ilexible element, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the extreme end of the socket element 2| will extend partly down into the sleeve I'I. This causes a slight crimp on the exible element,

which more securely binds the element tempo-4' rarily in a fixed position upon the auxiliaryI tube II.

A swivel unit upon the outer end of the auxiliary tube I. The application and operation of this swivel unit is specifically disclosed in our prior application, Serial Number 323,483, hereinbefore mentioned.

When it is desired to force the flexible element Ill into a waste pipe or a sewer or the like, the set screw 9 is screwed inwardly, causing its inner end to clamp the exible element ID, as shown in Figure 3. Then the flexible element can be pushed forward into the sewer or waste pipe, the length of the primary 8. When the pin I3 strikes the inner end of slot I2, the stroke of the apparatus is completed, then the gripping device is released, permitting the head and its socket element to clamp the flexible element (Fig. 1), to hold the flexible element in its extended position within the waste pipe. tainer I is drawn outwardly, to cause the primary tube 8 to move to the position shown in Figure 3. Then set screw 8 isturned inwardly to clamp the flexible element, whereupon the bolt 8 is drawn outwardly to release the flexible element, and then the container and primary tube is shoved inwardly to the position shown in Figure 1. This procedure is followed until suicient amount of the exible element is extended into the waste pipe to enable the operator to remove ,the obstruction,

The exible element I0 can be rotated or twisted within the waste pipe by the operator, turning the handle 5, whereby the container and its tubes 8 and II, as well as swivel section 21a, rotate at the will of the operator. Iny other words, the whole apparatus can berevolved bodi1y, for the working eiciently of flexible element or wire in order to clean the drain pipe or waste pipe. Further, it is to be understood that by means of the swivel unit 21, the apparatus can be worked at an angle, with respect to the waste pipe or drain pipe to which the swivel unit is fastened.

21 is fastened by a set screw 2i! Then the con- Our apparatus is very sanitary, in that the hands of the operator do not come at any time in contact with the soiled flexible element I0. By reason of the construction it is of a safety nature, in that the operator does not become infected, which often times happens as a result of handling soiled pipe cleaners.

The socket or straddling means 2I has legs 2 Ia that extend down beyond opposite sides of the flexible element II); said legs 2 Ia extend into the sleeve I1 efficiently holding the flexible element I0 in a clamped position.

"While we have described the preferred ernbodiment of our invention and illustrated same in accompanying drawing, certain changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates, during the extensive manufacture of same, and we, therefore, reserve the right to make such changes or alterations as shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

The cap 2 is provided with Ventilating apertures 2a, Fig. 1.

What we claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a tube provided with an upstanding casing and a depending sleeve on said tube registering with and below said casing, a plunger-bolt extending into said casing and provided on its inner end with a head, said head provided with means including the legs straddling a flexible element, cut-away portions on said head for receiving portions of a flexible element, and said legs being adapted to extend into said sleeve, when said head is pressing upon a flexible element.

2. In a sanitary drain pipe cleaner, the combination `of a tube provided with an outwardlyextending casing and with an outwardly-extending sleeve registering with said outwardly-extending casing, a bolt partly in said casing and partly extending beyond the outer end, said casing being partly closed at its outer end and provided with notches on its outer end, said bolt being provided with a transversely-extending pin adapted to be seated in said notches, said bolt provided with a head on its inner end, a coil spring around said bolt within said casing, one end of said spring bearing upon said head and its other end bearing against a portion of the outer end of said casing, said head being provided' on its outer end with a transverse flexible element receiving socket, Ysaid head being cut away on opposite sides contiguous to said socket and at right angles to said socket, said cut-away portions registering with said socket, and said socketed portion of said head being adapted to extend into said sleeve when said pin is in said notches.

EARL VON BON HORST.

LE ROY M. STRANG. 

